Demand for fresh fish and bread over the first lockdown saw award winning Perthshire chef/fishmonger Willie Little, who operates Littles Restaurant in the converted Church at Rattray, together with Fish in Crieff fishmongers in Crieff, decide to breathe new life into his old restaurant premises by turning it into another fishmongers.
Having moved out of 4 Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie over four years ago to establish the new Littles in the former Riverside Methodist Church, the former restaurant had seen spells as an American diner, and then as a tapas style eatery, before finally finding that the greatest demand was for fresh produce.
“The same concept which has made Fish in Crieff, my Crieff fishmongers, so popular has now been applied to Fish in Blair. Using the former restaurant space as a new fishmongers and deli has worked out really well,” said Willie.
“For the people of Blairgowrie, it’s one good thing that has happened as a result of the pandemic,” he added. “Had it not been for lockdown making us do far more fresh fish deliveries all over Perthshire, and then deciding to set up Wellmeadow as a shop a few days a week to start with, we would probably just have kept going with a restaurant concept in that space.”
“Fish in Blair has gone from strength to strength, and it would appear that local people like what we have to offer here,” said Willie.
The shop is open Thursday to Saturday 830am til 4pm, with each of these days bringing in a selection of freshly caught fish and seafood such as turbot, haddock, Orkney hand dived scallops, mussels and langoustines, landed and sourced by his trusted team of skippers and suppliers from Peterhead, Scrabster, and Kinlochbervie.
Fish in Blair also teams up with artisan bakery, Barnetts, and is stocking its freshly baked loaves. There’s also a fresh vegetable section.
“Some days we sell sixty loaves which is incredible,” said Willie. “Locals love the bread and Barnetts is a great name with which to partner in this venture.”
Fish in Blair can be contacted on 01250 873338.